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State Department Puts All 55 Million U.S. Visa Holders Under Continuous Vetting

Officials describe a continuous screening system that mines social media and foreign records to flag potential ineligibility.

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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio responds to a question from reporters while he meets with Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric (not pictured) at the U.S. Department of State on August 6, 2025 in Washington, D.C.
U.S. President Donald Trump attends a press conference following his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, in Anchorage, Alaska, U.S., August 15, 2025.
Federal immigration officers stand with masks, as federal detainments continue, in the hallways of U.S. immigration court in New York City, U.S., August 19, 2025. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File photo

Overview

  • State Department officials told the Associated Press that every valid U.S. visa holder is under ongoing review, with visas to be revoked if new information shows ineligibility and deportation possible for those in the country.
  • The expansion extends a re‑vetting push that began with international students—especially those tied to pro‑Palestinian campus activity—to now cover all visa categories.
  • Indicators that can trigger action include overstays, criminal conduct, threats to public safety, engaging in terrorist activity, or providing support to a designated terrorist organization, according to the department.
  • Reviews draw on law‑enforcement and immigration records from visa holders’ home countries and scrutiny of social media accounts, in addition to any violations committed in the United States.
  • Officials say more than 6,000 student visas have been revoked since January—including roughly 4,000 tied to legal infractions and about 200–300 for terrorism‑related issues—while civil‑rights groups and courts challenge aspects of the process in high‑profile cases.